20 mm Becker
Encyclopedia
The 20 mm Becker was a German automatic cannon developed for aircraft use during World War I
. It was first mass produced in 1916
and was installed in a variety of aircraft; the only German autocannon to actually see service in the air during the war.
Development commenced in 1913
and was therefore already advanced when the War Ministry issued a specification in June 1915
calling for an aircraft cannon of under 37 mm caliber and 70 kg weight capable of firing a 10-round burst. Tests commenced shortly thereafter with the weapon mounted in a Gotha G.I
, but proved unsatisfactory. Despite this, the potential of the gun was such that the arsenal at Spandau
was engaged to help develop and fine-tune the design, leading to a production contract for 120 Becker Type M2 guns in June 1916. In addition to the orders for aircraft guns placed with Becker, Spandau and MAN also received a contract to build Becker cannon for the Army.
The 20-mm Becker was a slim weapon working on the principle of advanced primer ignition blowback. It weighed only 30 kg. It was fed by a somewhat awkward, curved box magazine, available in versions that held 10 or 15 rounds; the latter weighed another 5 kg. As the rate of fire was 325 rounds per minute, this magazine could be emptied very quickly. The muzzle velocity was 490 m/s, which was low compared to the rifle-calibre machine guns of the period such as the German MG 08, but a respectable performance compared to other automatic cannon of the period, such as the Vickers "pom-pom
".
The main types to utilise the Becker were large aircraft - the Friedrichshafen G.III
bomber and AEG G.IVk
ground-attack machine. Tests in smaller, single-engined aircraft were not so successful, but were carried out extensively through the rest of the war, commencing with an Albatros J.I
in December 1917
. Due to the gun's operating principles, it could not be synchronised, and this posed an immediate problem for its installation in this type of plane. The solution adopted after the tests with the Albatros J.I was to fit it to fire downwards through the floor. Fitting the gun to a fighter with a pusher configuration was another obvious solution, and trials were carried out with an Albatros D.VI
. Other intended installations were for an AGO C.I
and the Hansa D.I, but these were not carried out before the Armistice.
Total production figures are not known, but were in excess of 539. A total of 362 were surrendered to the Allies.
The patent for the gun was bought by SEMAG in 1921
, who continued development with a more powerful cartridge, and then by Oerlikon
in 1924
, who marketed improved versions as the Oerlikon F
, L and S.
-development of the Becker design in Switzerland after World War I.
MG FF cannon
-the final German World War II development of the Becker design.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It was first mass produced in 1916
1916 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1916:- Events :* Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft simulate night torpedo attacks for the first time against Japanese fleet units in Tateyama Bay during annual fleet maneuvers, although no torpedoes are dropped....
and was installed in a variety of aircraft; the only German autocannon to actually see service in the air during the war.
Development commenced in 1913
1913 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1913:-January:*13 January – Brazilian naval aviation commences with the foundation of a flying school.-February:...
and was therefore already advanced when the War Ministry issued a specification in June 1915
1915 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1915:- Events :* The United States Navy establishes a lighter-than-air arm, charged with the operation of airships and of kite balloons to be towed behind warships...
calling for an aircraft cannon of under 37 mm caliber and 70 kg weight capable of firing a 10-round burst. Tests commenced shortly thereafter with the weapon mounted in a Gotha G.I
Gotha G.I
The Gotha G.I was a heavy bomber used by the Luftstreitkräfte during World War I.-Design and development:In mid-1914, Oskar Ursinus, the founder and editor of the German flying magazine Flugsport, began designing a large twin-engine seaplane of unconventional configuration...
, but proved unsatisfactory. Despite this, the potential of the gun was such that the arsenal at Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
was engaged to help develop and fine-tune the design, leading to a production contract for 120 Becker Type M2 guns in June 1916. In addition to the orders for aircraft guns placed with Becker, Spandau and MAN also received a contract to build Becker cannon for the Army.
The 20-mm Becker was a slim weapon working on the principle of advanced primer ignition blowback. It weighed only 30 kg. It was fed by a somewhat awkward, curved box magazine, available in versions that held 10 or 15 rounds; the latter weighed another 5 kg. As the rate of fire was 325 rounds per minute, this magazine could be emptied very quickly. The muzzle velocity was 490 m/s, which was low compared to the rifle-calibre machine guns of the period such as the German MG 08, but a respectable performance compared to other automatic cannon of the period, such as the Vickers "pom-pom
QF 1 pounder pom-pom
The QF 1 pounder, universally known as the pom-pom, was an early 37 mm British autocannon. It was used by several countries initially as an infantry gun and later as a light anti-aircraft gun. The name comes from the sound it makes when firing....
".
The main types to utilise the Becker were large aircraft - the Friedrichshafen G.III
Friedrichshafen G.III
|-See also:-References and notes:*The Complete Encyclopedia of Flight 1848-1939 by John Batchelor and Malcom V. Lowe*Grosz, Peter M.: Windsock Datafile 65 Friedrichshafen G.III / G.IIIa, Berkhamsted 1997, ISBN 0-948414-97-9-External links:*...
bomber and AEG G.IVk
AEG G.IV
-See also:-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Grey, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-370-00103-6....
ground-attack machine. Tests in smaller, single-engined aircraft were not so successful, but were carried out extensively through the rest of the war, commencing with an Albatros J.I
Albatros J.I
|-See also:-References:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-933852-71-1....
in December 1917
1917 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1917:- Events :* During her 30 November 1916-24 February 1918 cruise, the Imperial German Navy commerce raider Wolf carries a Friedrichshafen FF.33e seaplane nicknamed Wölfchen , which during 1917 singlehandedly captures at least four of the 37 enemy...
. Due to the gun's operating principles, it could not be synchronised, and this posed an immediate problem for its installation in this type of plane. The solution adopted after the tests with the Albatros J.I was to fit it to fire downwards through the floor. Fitting the gun to a fighter with a pusher configuration was another obvious solution, and trials were carried out with an Albatros D.VI
Albatros D.VI
Albatros D.VI was the designation given to a prototype single-seat twin-boom pusher biplane built in 1917 in Germany. It was armed with an 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 machine gun and a fixed 20 mm Becker cannon....
. Other intended installations were for an AGO C.I
AGO C.I
- See also :...
and the Hansa D.I, but these were not carried out before the Armistice.
Total production figures are not known, but were in excess of 539. A total of 362 were surrendered to the Allies.
The patent for the gun was bought by SEMAG in 1921
1921 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1921:- Events :* Bessie Coleman attends flying school in France and became the first licensed African-American female pilot.* Mexicana de Aviación begins service....
, who continued development with a more powerful cartridge, and then by Oerlikon
Oerlikon Contraves
Rheinmetall Air Defence AG is a division of German armament manufacturer Rheinmetall, created when the company's Oerlikon Contraves unit was renamed on 1 January 2009 and integrated with Rheinmetall's other air-defence products...
in 1924
1924 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1924:- Events :* Violating the Treaty of Versailles, Germany establishes a secret training base for German pilots at Lipetsk in the Soviet Union...
, who marketed improved versions as the Oerlikon F
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
, L and S.
Applications
- Friedrichshafen G.IFriedrichshafen G.I|-See also:...
- AEG G.IVAEG G.IV-See also:-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Grey, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-370-00103-6....
- AEG J.II
- AGO S.IAGO S.I-See also:...
- Albatros D.IIAlbatros D.II|-See also:...
- Albatros D.VIAlbatros D.VIAlbatros D.VI was the designation given to a prototype single-seat twin-boom pusher biplane built in 1917 in Germany. It was armed with an 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 machine gun and a fixed 20 mm Becker cannon....
- Albatros J.IAlbatros J.I|-See also:-References:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-933852-71-1....
- Caspar D.I
- LVG C.V
See also
Oerlikon 20 mm cannonOerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
-development of the Becker design in Switzerland after World War I.
MG FF cannon
MG FF cannon
The MG FF was a drum-fed, 20 mm aircraft autocannon, developed in 1936 by Ikaria Werke Berlin of Germany. It was a derivative of the Swiss Oerlikon FF F cannon, itself a development of the German World War I Becker 20 mm cannon, and was designed to be used in fixed or flexible mountings, as...
-the final German World War II development of the Becker design.